Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the ongoing debate over 'Bharat' and 'INDIA,' raising concerns about what she termed as "shallow politics." In a press conference held in Lucknow, Mayawati called for a ban on all political entities formed in the name of the country and questioned their intentions.
Mayawati stated, "Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of the shallow politics being done on 'Bharat' and 'INDIA' and ban all organisations, parties, and alliances formed in the name of the country." However, she did not specify whether the ban should apply to groups with 'India' or 'Bharat' in their names.
She emphasised the significance of 'Bharat' as a well-established and dignified constitutional name, asserting that the people of India, representing diverse castes and religions, hold deep love and respect for the sacred humanitarian and public welfare Constitution crafted by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Mayawati criticised any attempts to alter or tamper with this foundational document, considering it inappropriate to play with the sentiments of the citizens.
Furthermore, Mayawati suggested a potential connection between the choice of alliance names and political strategies, stating, "The truth is that the opposition itself has given the BJP an opportunity to tamper with the Constitution... as part of a well-thought-out strategy and conspiracy, by naming its alliance I.N.D.I.A. Or ... all of this may be happening with the ruling party and the opposition in cahoots."
She decried the current state of politics, referring to it as a "reprehensible game" that is overshadowing critical issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment, and development, especially with the general election looming next year.
In light of these concerns, Mayawati affirmed her party's decision to distance itself from both casteist, communal, and capitalist alliances, maintaining a stance that aligns with the public interest.
The recent controversy around the usage of 'Bharat' and 'INDIA' in political discourse gained momentum when a G20 invitation bearing the phrase 'President of Bharat' circulated widely on social media, leading to opposing reactions. While the opposition argued that this indicated BJP's apprehension regarding the I.N.D.I.A alliance, the ruling party defended its use of 'Bharat,' asserting that it aligns with the Constitution.
Notably, the BSP has not aligned itself with either the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A. The Dalit-centric party holds 10 MPs in the Lok Sabha and a limited number of MLAs in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.